What Causes Starting Troubles??

[Pleinmont]

Hi

Just a quick one..

My DIESEL 1995 3.0 SSRG has been absolutely brilliant so far, but in the last few days I have noticed that its taking more and more time to get the engine to fire up when I turn the ignition over.

Is this slow response a bit like having dirty plugs in a petrol? I'm not a diesel expert, so is this something that I can sort out by replacing the glow plugs (how hard is this to do?) or is it a sign that the starter motor is on its way out?

Any hints or tips would be cool, cos I can see that in a week or so, I will be struggling to get it started without any idea what the problem is

Thanks

[marky]

Sounds like the Glowplugs are not doing there job check the Glowplup fuse 1st
Lumpy startup & misfire is usually Glowplugs Not working.

[Pleinmont]

Sounds like the Glowplugs are not doing there job check the Glowplup fuse 1st
Lumpy startup & misfire is usually Glowplugs Not working.

Cheers mate

Whereabouts are the fuses, what do they look like and how do I know if they are blown....

As you can tell, I'm no mechanic, but if i know what i am doing i'm pretty confident I can sort a problem out

[Tallyman]

Think you'll find the glowplug fuse is in the fusebox on the o/s inner wing in the engine bay. Should be the 80amp fuse. Probably need to go to a Toy dealer to get a replacement if it's blown.

[Gizmo]

If its the starter/contacts on their way out, generally you will here the clicking of the motor trying to engage.

If taking longer to start without this, then it sounds more like down to the Glow Plugs and/or fuse.

As well as Toyota doing the fuses, I believe both Milners and Roughtrax do the 80 Amp fuses.

[Pleinmont]

Think you'll find the glowplug fuse is in the fusebox on the o/s inner wing in the engine bay. Should be the 80amp fuse. Probably need to go to a Toy dealer to get a replacement if it's blown.

Cool....

Mind you, its stopped playing up today and all seems fine now... I did run it round for a couple of days low on fuel tho, so maybe that didn't help...

Cheers

[Surf Canada]

Sounds like the Glowplugs are not doing there job check the Glowplup fuse 1st
Lumpy startup & misfire is usually Glowplugs Not working.

Glow plugs in warm weather? Not sure I buy it, they barely stay on when it's warm outside. My lamp drops out in less than 1 second in 20 degrees. If his fuel tank was near empty as he mentioned, then maybe some air was drawn through the system.

[TonyN]

Glow plugs in warm weather? Not sure I buy it, they barely stay on when it's warm outside. My lamp drops out in less than 1 second in 20 degrees. If his fuel tank was near empty as he mentioned, then maybe some air was drawn through the system.

The light is just a check light, Your 2.4 should have a beep when the glow plugs are done. Most will start as soon as the light goes off, but if its cold or you have any minor glowplug/injector/fuel issues it will need to heat for longer to start without spluttering.

Also you can hear the relay click off if the radio isn't on.

3.0's have a lot shorter preheat time, like 3.5secs for a coolant temp of 0 deg C, 2 sec for 20deg and 1 sec for hotter, but longer afterglow when its running. (80 sec. for 4 second preheat, to 20 seconds for 1 sec preheat.)

Starter motor should be OK if its turning and not just clicking, could have been the low fuel level, but I never fill our truck till the low fuel light is on and its never had a problem. Check your batteries, if they are failing it might be cranking over to slow to fire as quick as your used to.

[Surf Canada]

The light is just a check light, Your 2.4 should have a beep when the glow plugs are done. Most will start as soon as the light goes off, but if its cold or you have any minor glowplug/injector/fuel issues it will need to heat for longer to start without spluttering.

Also you can hear the relay click off if the radio isn't on.

Good info to know. I'll listen for the relay next time.

I found out the hard way last winter that these Japanese imports don't have a knockout for a block heater. Hard starting in -25C! Next day I bit the bullet, went out and bought a diesel fired coolant heater. Mine's an ESPAR D4. Cost me $1000 CAD and took about four hours to install. Now all I do through the winter is press a button and 20 minutes later the engine is up to temperature before I even crank it over. Sweet...

[M35A2]

My Peugeot 106 diesel's glow plus went. In the summer it was starting ok, but as soon as it started getting colder then it wouldn't start. When it fired up, there was lots of white smoke, due to the unburnt fuel and it was lumpy for a minute or so. The glow plugs are very easy to change. Just undo the wire from the top of the plug, and unscrew it from the cylinder head like a spark plug. Unscrew the plug, you will see a serial number on it. If you give this number to a motor factors, they will be able to get the right ones for you. Mine cost about £8 each for my car. But when my Defender ones went they were £20 each.

If the starter is turning, but turns over a lot slower than usual it could be the battery or the Alternator not charging the battery properly. If you haven't got a volt meter to test the static battery voltage (with the engine off) and the output when the engine is running, try taking the battery filler caps off, leave the engine running for 5-10mins then look at the battery plates with a torch. If the cells are bubbling, then that shows that the battery is being charged. It only takes one cell to fail for serious starting problems.

[M35A2]

Has that company got a website for the fuel heater?? I'm thinking of getting on put on mine when I get it. Will save engine wear BIG TIME.

[Rob]

Different company but here you go http://www.webasto.co.uk/ (coolant heater)

[Surf Canada]

Has that company got a website for the fuel heater?? I'm thinking of getting on put on mine when I get it. Will save engine wear BIG TIME.

Here's the Espar site:

http://www.espar.com - I have the Hydronic D4. The D5 is too big. I directed the exhaust of the heater unit at my oil pan, which warms the oil up nicely.

Webasto makes a great heater as well and I would have gone for it but it was $350 more and I didn't have the cash at the time. This one works great at 13,500BTU but the Webasto is slightly bigger at 17,000BTU and will heat even faster, especially if you want to use the interior fan option which turns the fan on and heats the engine compartment.

Just a heads up, you may want to check your battery condition or install a second battery if you don't have one already as these heaters have about a 4amp draw and I pulled my old battery down pretty fast. I'm installing a second battery before winter comes.

Cheers, Paul

[M35A2]

Cheers mate... Yeah, I've heard of the Webasto range, as I'm a Truck Driver and we have them in our trucks for night heaters. I knew a guy once that also had one fitted in his Land Rover. Used to have it running while he drove it to keep it warm inside.

My vehicle has got two batteries fitted, so if they are in good nick, they should be able to cope. Can you get them with a digital timer?? You could then set it to swith on half hour before you start it. Batteries should hold out that long?

[M35A2]

By the way Paul,

Do they sell original operators manuals in Canada for SURFS?? Bit too late for me as I have just ordered one, but was looking on the Aussie sites and couldn't see them advertised.

Being a Turbine Engineer you might know about Turbo's???? Can you get a Turbo Guard fitted to a SURF? I am looking for an M35A2 REO, an American 6x6 Cargo Truck. I test drove one last year and that had a turbo guard fitted. Thought it was a good idea!!

What make are the Turbo's on a SURF anyway, the 3.0lt 1KZ Engine??